Pamlico drug traffickers sentenced

Two men were sentenced to federal prison this week after Operation “No Quarter” revealed their involvement in drug trafficking in Pamlico County, according to a press release from the United States Attorney’s Office.

Two men were sentenced to federal prison this week after Operation “No Quarter” revealed their involvement in drug trafficking in Pamlico County, according to a press release from the United States Attorney’s Office.

Allen Gerome Gibbs, 38, of Bayboro was sentenced to more than 15 years imprisonment and Jessie Lee Pearson, 36, of Greenville was sentenced to more than 11 years imprisonment.

Gibbs and Pearson will be placed on supervised release for five years each after they fulfill their prison sentences.

Additionally, Gibbs will pay $1,900 in restitution to the Pamlico County Sheriff’s Office either upfront or through participation in the Bureau of Prisons Inmate Financial Responsibility Program during his incarceration.

Pearson’s plea agreement included that he will forfeit $99,763 in cash to the government. The money was seized by agents during the investigation.

A shipment of about 14 kilograms of cocaine was seized in Pamlico County from a truck driven by Renato Torres-Eguino, of Phoenix. The cocaine was being shipped to Jorge Acosta-Muro, of Arapahoe. Acosto-Muro was Pearson’s source for cocaine.

Acosto-Muro was going to sell the cocaine to Pearson and Bayboro resident, Kevin Cornelious Davis who planned to sell the cocaine to their customers.

Two of their customers were Gibbs and Tobia Mila Moye, of Grifton.

Results of the investigation disclosed that Pearson distributed more than 130 kilograms of cocaine throughout Pitt and Pamlico Counties since 2002.

Agents with the Craven County and Pamlico County Sheriff’s Offices indicted Gibbs after a confidential informant purchased cocaine from him in Craven and Pamlico County areas on numerous occasions between 2011 and 2012.

Through investigation, officials found that Gibbs was involved in the distribution of more than 8 kilograms of cocaine in the Craven and Pamlico County areas after he was released from prison on prior drug charges in 2008.

Prior to the sentencing of Gibbs and Pearson, other participants were sentenced for their involvement as well.

Torres-Eguino was sentenced to more than 19 years in prison.

Acosto-Muro was sentenced to more than 22 years, while Davis and Moye were each sentenced to more than 10 years.

The purpose of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Operation “No Quarter” was to breakdown the Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTO) that operates not only in the Eastern District of North Carolina, but throughout the entire state, the United States and Mexico. Los Zetas, La Familia, Gulf and Sinaloa drug cartels are all part of the DTO.

These DTO’s have imported large quantities of cocaine, marijuana, heroin and methamphetamine into the United States. Some proceeds from the sale of these illegal drugs were sent back into Mexico.

The 10 year investigation that spanned five North Carolina counties, afforded officials the opportunity to seize drugs with a street value of $4.6 million, 127 kilograms of cocaine, 53 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, 160 pounds of marijuana and 32 grams of heroin.

Page 2 of 2 - Officials also seized $2.2 million in U.S. currency, 35 firearms and 35 real properties valued at $1.5 million.

Federal prosecutions from this investigation were handled by Special Assistant United States Attorney’s Glenn Perry, from the Pitt County District Attorney’s Office and Augustus Willis, from District Attorney Scott Thomas’ office.